Author of Dark, Paranormal, Suspense,& Romance: You never know where the words may lead.
Posting Schedule - On Indefinite Hiatus.
Footsteps of a Writer is a path from aspiring writer to published author and beyond. You will find writing tips and motivations, book reviews, author interviews and guest posts, personal insights into my writing life, and more.
My dad left this world fifteen years ago. He remains in my heart. He's thought of often.
"Dad, I feel you watching over me. I love you and hope you have a Happy Father's Day. You may not have been the best dad in the world, but you were mine. I chose you for the lessons I needed in my early years. So, thank you and may your soul be happy in the arms of Heaven."
A warm Happy Father's Day to all fathers out there, both in Heaven and on Earth.
Most people start each New Year with Resolutions. Most of those people abandon their plan halfway through January. Some jot down goals for the New Year, and when they fall behind, they discard it all. Since this happens year after year, I wonder why those same people continue the process.
I’m sure there are many who stick to their guns and continue forward accomplishing great things. Congratulations and keep doing what you do.
For those who continue with failed attempts, why not try something new this year?
Take it step by step, month by month, a day at a time. Make your steps small and achievable. I’m not saying don’t reach for the stars, I’m saying be realistic. Don’t set goals so high, they are unachievable and set you up to fail.
Set something small for January, and when you achieve it, celebrate. For February, you can up the stakes a little, but not too much. It’s better to set your goals low and go above and beyond, rather than not reaching them at all.
I wish you all the best in the coming year. Let’s get ready for that first step toward our goals.
Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14, is a day for expressing love through gifts and affections. We gather with our loved ones, exchange little gifts, and acknowledge the love we feel. But what is it really about?
With many holidays, the celebrated day began as one thing and evolved into something different. Valentine's Day comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine. But our customs for this day has nothing to do with their lives. It seems to reach back to an ancient Roman festival called Lupericalia. Celebrated on the 15th, the festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.
Valentine's Day carries a variety of traditions throughout the world.
In United States and Canada, we celebrate through gifts: candy, cards, flowers, parties, etc.
In Sicily, some young women wake before sunrise and stand by a window, waiting for a man to pass by. It is believed he will become her husband within the year.
Some believe that birds choose their mates on February 14th.
As we celebrate already established relationships, most customs find this day to be a celebration of new love, a special day to choose a mate.
Quite a few used random methods of choosing that one person to share love and life with. To write boyfriends' names upon a piece of paper, wrap it in clay, and drop it into water was one method. The true valentine's name would float to the top first. Pinning bay leaves to a pillow to bring about a dream of the girl's future husband is another.
I hope you enjoyed these few tidbits of the Valentine's Day holiday.
In celebration of the holiday, I'd like to take a look at a few 'fictional' couples.
Ghost - Sam and Molly hang onto love even through death.
Titanic - Jack and Rose overcome social boundaries with their love.
The Notebook - Noah and Allie have a love stretched over time and separation.
Dirty Dancing - Johnny and Baby learn to step outside of the square through their love.
Ghost Whisperer - Melinda and Jim take unconditional love to a new level.
Sex and the City - Carrie and Mr. Big prove some love can survive hardships and differences.
Friends - Ross and Rachel show how friendship is such an important part of a relationship.
Which 'fictional' couple is your favorite? Vote below for your favorite in my list. Feel free to add your own favorite 'fictional' couple within the comments.
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author. From ‘A Christmas Carol’.
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Life tends to keep us so busy taking care of the day to day chores; we forget the ones who are most important to us. Canceling gatherings, missing phone calls, forgetting to say 'I love you,' we continue on our hectic journey as if it's no big deal. There will always be tomorrow, but for some tomorrow never comes.
For 2013, don't wait all year for the Christmas season to enjoy your family and friends, enjoy them every chance you get.
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I'll be taking the next two weeks off for the holidays.
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Ten years ago, the United States joined together as we lost our loved ones to a great tragedy.
Where were you when the moment of silence fell across the states?
At that time, I worked in a clothing factory in Tennessee. I don't remember who told us about the events, but as the word spread from one end of the building to the other, silence engulfed us all.
I didn't lose anyone in this tragic event, yet when I heard the news tears filled my eyes and I believe my heart stopped beating for a split moment. Tragic news such as this affects us as a whole. It is during times as such, we join together through a spiritual connection, whether we realize it or not. We are of one in this great big world and one day that togetherness will span more than a few minutes, hours, or days.
As we face a day ten years after the fact, please take a moment of silence to send prayers out to all those in need, all around the world.
Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) by Alan Jackson
I'd like to take a moment to wish all the fathers out there, Happy Father's Day.
My own father passed away, twelve years ago, long before he should have been taken from this physical plane. At age fifty-one, my father had begun finding his path. Years he'd spent as an alcoholic, but from what I've understood from people closes to him, he'd been sober for three months before a work accident took his life.
I'm aware three months may not seem like a long time to some, but for my father to go without alcohol for such a long time was a major accomplishment. He found God many years before this, but continued to struggle with this disease. He alienated most of his family and friends, but a couple stuck by him. I extend a thank you to these people, for I was not among them.
This is my biggest regret in life. He wasn't the best father, or the best man in the world, but he had a tender, kind heart when he wasn't under the influence. Life gave him many tests and trials, alcohol covered his demons, but in the end he found God and lived as we should with a clear mind. I pray this opened the gates of heaven for him and he now watches over his not-so-perfect children and knows we forgive him and hope he does the same.
On this special day, or any day, reach out to your father if he remains on the physical plane, whether he is a great father or a not so great father. One day he will be gone, and you will most likely regret not taking the moment to tell him just how much you care, no matter his faults.
(The angel plaque sat beside my father's bible. I have no idea where or who it came from, but it must have been very important to him. I keep it on my dresser to remind me angels watch over every one of us.)
The big day is tomorrow. I want to take a moment and give thanks to all those who have guided me in my writer's journey.
I'd like to thank my best friend, Alisyn, for being a constant sounding board for my ideas, both good and bad. Mostly, I'm thankful for you being by my side through it all.
I'd like to thank my boyfriend, James, for understanding that I need time alone when writing and giving me the space needed.
I'd like to thank my critique partners and critique groups, past, present, and future. Without you my skills would not have grown so quickly.
I'd like to thank all of my blog followers. I appreciate your visits and comments.
I'd like to thank my family for providing me with the material that finds its way into my stories.
I'd like to thank god for giving me the gift and desire to write.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Try not to eat too much.
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